Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday's Forecast
Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Gale force, walking arduous
Considerable buffeting, walking into the wind will be strenuous on exposed terrain, stronger gusts may knock you off your feet. 40 to 55mph.
Snow and rain mix
Precipitation falling mostly as snow on higher terrain, rain on low-to-middle elevations, may turn to sleet or rain higher up.
Whiteout
Fog and lying snow over the mountains, possibly with falling or blowing snow, very disorientating. Map and compass essential, beware of unseen hazards.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 21st January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and hill snow in eastern Scotland in the morning tends to ease off; largely dry toward west. E-SE'ly gales in north, lower wind speeds S & W Highlands, but increasing again later. In England & Wales, upland gales all day, rain and initially snow on tops extending north, becoming milder from the south.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gales ease for a time. Snow/rain eases, cloud breaks northwest.
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 50 to 70mph up to dawn, easing to 40-50mph in morning, soonest in southern areas, may drop to 30mph or briefly less, but in afternoon rapidly strengthening again, reaching 50-70mph by dusk into evening/night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions temporarily easing morning into middle of day, but still some uncomfortable gusty spots. Generally deteriorating through afternoon, wind chill significant.
How Wet?
Rain and upland snow mostly morning, returns into evening.
Snow falling above 800-900m, rain lower down, in places wetter higher up at times, most persistent in the morning Deeside, for a time widely southern Cairngorms NP, smaller amounts toward Strathspey. Fading to become largely dry into afternoon. After dark into evening, rain preceded by snow on tops moves back in from south.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive morning, lowest south/east; some breaks afternoon.
Shrouding the mountains widely, from 700 to 900m up from Lochnagar to Glen Garry in the morning, higher bases northwestward, some breaks to tops at times Monadhliath. Bases rising higher for a few hours into afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, rising to 50% afternoon.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare if any weak sun mostly Strathspey into afternoon, where visibility becoming increasingly good. Poor visibility in morning precipitation, whiteout high tops in fog over snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C, rising slightly into night. Wind chill feeling like -13C, to -17C where exposed to stronger wind on higher areas.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, but some slopes just above freezing higher up on western side of Cairngorms. Into night, rising above freezing to all tops for several hours.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 22nd January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East to southeasterly 50 to 60mph, in places 70mph higher Cairngorms; powerful gusts downslope toward west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult conditions, mobility challenging and gusts may knock you over not just on highest terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Constant upland snowfall, heavier east
Hill snow likely persistent, constant heavier falls expected over east and southeastern Cairngorms NP; rain or sleet on low-mid slopes. Patchier smaller amounts toward Strathspey and Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the mountains widely, lowest cloud base eastern areas, to mid-slopes. Some breaks above 900m mostly toward western side of Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, hazy at best, but whiteout conditions over the mountains in cloud and snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-1 or -2C, slightly colder with time. Wind chill feels as cold as -17 to -20C.
Freezing Level
Dropping from dawn back to 600 to 800m, soonest in eastern areas, later dropping below 600m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 23rd January 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Jan 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 45 to 55mph, gusts to 65mph higher Cairngorms at times; powerful gusts downslope as well.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous to difficult conditions; mobility challenging in exposure where gusts may knock you over. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Snow, constant and heavy east
Snow likely persistent, constant heavier falls expected over east and southeastern Cairngorms NP; snow down to lower slopes. Smaller amounts toward Strathspey, patchy over Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding the mountains widely, lowest cloud base eastern areas, to mid-slopes. Bases up to middle to upper slopes around and west of Strathspey, but any summits will struggle to clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, hazy at best, but whiteout conditions over the mountains in cloud and snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2C (to -5C on Cairngorm summits), may drop slightly colder with time. Wind chill feels as cold as -17 to -20C.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m, dropping during the day, to 400m or lower in the northeast.
Planning Outlook
Sustained gale force easterlies over most mountains later this week, powerful gusts downslope toward west; severe chill factor. Colder air and lowering freezing level moves into Scotland Thursday-Friday, much mountain terrain then frozen into the weekend and early next week. Substantial snowfalls over eastern Scottish hills later this week, drier to the west. Dropping just below freezing on high tops in England and Wales - a mix of rain and high level snow; colder further south over the weekend. Circulating low pressure and cold air into next week, with further snowfalls likely. Lower wind speeds early in the new week, but then likely increasing E-SE'ly again.